Quebec auto insurer highlights guidance on use of electronic, on-board recorders in heavy vehicles

The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the province’s auto insurer, has posted an information bulletin providing guidance on the use of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) used in heavy vehicles.
The devices have increasingly replaced paper format daily logs with electronic, on-screen logs. The SAAQ notes work is in progress to develop a Canadian standard for the use of EOBRs, but as no certification process is currently in place.
Meanwhile, the SAAQ has posted guidance online that draws attention to a regulatory framework it created for EOBRs in 2007.
Among its points:
•The device must be capable of displaying the hours of driving and other hours of service for each day the EOBR is used.
•When requested by a peace officer, a driver can immediately provide confirmation for the previous 14 days on a digital display screen of the EOBR, in a hand-written form or on a printout.
•The driver must be capable, if requested by a peace officer, of preparing a handwritten daily log from the information stored in the device for each day the device is used.
•The device should automatically record when it is disconnected or reconnected and keep a record of the time and date of these occurrences.